Clasp



(No Model.)

W. H. THOMPSON.

CLASP.

No. 448,893. Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

UNITED STATES lVILLIAM ll. THOMPSON, OF EAST STROUDSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,893, dated March 24, 1891.

Application filed December 29, 1890. Serial No. 376,065. (No model.)

spond to the articles to which it is attached,

it being equally as serviceable for large articles, as horse-blankets, as for gloves. The invention relates to that form of clasp in which a projection on one part of the clasp passes into and locks within a socket on the other part; and my object is to render the registering of the projection and socket easier and more certain, and to relieve said parts of strain and aid in the prevention of their separation.

The invention consists of a clasp having one part formed with a locking projection and a hooked end and the other part having a socket and an extension adapted to engage said end to cause the projection and socket to align and to sustain part of the strain when the parts are locked together.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the parts before they are engaged with each other. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the parts locked together. Fig.3 represents the parts in plan.

The two sections A 13 of the clasp are formed of sheet metal, and are fastened to their respective flaps by rivets when the fastener is used for large articles, said rivets 1 passing through lateral extensions 2 of the plates, and through leather washers 3 on the side of the flaps opposite the plates A B. In

cases where the fasteners are used for smaller articles the plates maybe secured to the flaps 111 other ways, as by tongues struck up from the metal of the plates at the edges. The plate A is secured to the overlapping flap of the article, and has an opening a over this opening, and on the outside of the flaps is socured the socket c, which has a flange 4,1esting on the material about the opening therein, and tangs projecting inward and through openings in the plate A, where theyare bent aside to hold the socket securely in place. This presents a neat appearance on the outside. The fiange may be separate from the socket, as this is the more convenient way of forming it. The plate is extended, as at D, and this end is left unattached from the material. It has preferably a wide notch form ed in its extreme end, which leaves projection 7 on each side. The other plate B of the clasp, which is attached to the under flap of the material, has a projection 19, adapted to enter the opening in the plate Aand enter the socket. This projection is preferably formed by turning over the end of the plate 13, thus forming a spring-loop, which will engage with the edges of the opening a and the socket, and thus hold the parts together until sufficient force is applied to overcome the force of the grip of the spring, when the plates will separate. The extension B of this plate is also free from the material, and its extreme end 5 is turned up or hooked, and the action of clasping the parts is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The notched end of the overlapping plate D is first engaged with the hooked end 5 of the under plate 13, and this forms substantially a pivoted connection between the plates, which when pressed together will cause the spring projection to enter the socket, thus completely locking the parts. By making the extensions D and B engage first the clasping of the plates is rendered easy, rapid, and certain. The notched ends of the extension D insure the correct relative positions of the plates laterally. Not only does this connection of the extensions aid in the easy and proper clasping of the parts, but it resists the strain which is exerted longitudinally of the material, thus re lieving the spring projection, the main function of which is then to hold the flaps against separation from each other laterally. The extension also prevents this.

I do not wish to limit myself to the precise form of the ends of the extensions, as they may be constructed to engage with each other in difierent ways. The socket, being provided mainly to cover the opening in the ma tcrial and present a neat appearance, may be made of paper or other substance suitable for the purpose.

Vhat I claim is 1. In combination, the plate B, formed of sheet metal, having one end turned back upon itself to form a spring project-ion at one end, and having an extension with a turnedup end, the plate A, also formed of sheet metal, having an opening at one end to receive the spring projection, and an extension unattached to the material for engaging the hook of the lower plate, substantially as de scribed.

2. In combination, the sheet-metal plate B, having its end turned back upon itself to form a spring projection, and an extension provided with a hook, the plate A, also of sheet metal, having an opening for the spring projection and an extension unattached to the material and adapted to engage the hooked extension, and a socket located over the opening in the plate A and having tangs passing through said plate and bent aside for holding the socket in place, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

THEO. Y. HOFFMAN, O. L. RHODES. 

